[pct-l] bug question

Sat Nov 27 11:02:27 CST 2010

Good morning, Kevin,

It seems every year there’s a discussion of alternative methods of thwarting
mosquitoes, and to a lesser extent, ticks.  That’s good: There may be
something simple and friendly out there that combines with a hiker’s
personal body chemistry to deter all those miserable little pests.

Unfortunately, I’ve not really heard of a method(s) that really passes
muster by being usable against heavy infestations, day-in and day-out, for a
month or so.   As a result, I carry high-concentration DEET lotion, but I
avoid using it whenever reasonable. Since WW-II DEET has proven to be very
safe, but I still don’t like to indiscriminately slaver chemicals on exposed
skin. I also don’t like the sticky feel, and I don’t like the way it
dissolves many plastics and paints.

Some hikers – usually the inexperienced – claim they will try to just
tough-it-out without DEET, or use some alternative or home-brewed product
instead. Each to his own, but I will say to them: Carry an ounce or so of
DEET anyway, at least until you’ve encountered and endured significant
mosquito infestations, and have proven that the non-DEET practice is as
sound as the theory.

I often carry two small bottles rather than one larger container. In a hurry
to get the DEET on and continue up the trail it’s amazing how easy it is to
leave the bottle sitting on a rock only to discover the error four hours
later when you need another coating of repellent. Mosquitoes can be
monumentally distracting.

While hiking in heavy mosquito infestations I often use an Outdoor Research
head net – the kind with the thin metal band to keep the mesh away from the
skin.  I also sleep wearing this net in lieu of sleeping in a tent or in a
mosquito bar.  The mosquitoes cover the mesh, probing with their dipsticks,
but I vary rarely get bit.  The problem for many is the constant, insane,
high-pitched whine as the mosquitoes fly around the net.  I’m seldom
bothered because at my age and history I have considerable high-frequency
hearing loss: I barely hear them.  Usually when the air gets chilly around
10-11 PM the mosquitoes go away and if I awake I’ll remove the net till
morning.

Unfortunately, most commercial head nets are made from the extremely fine
mesh “no-seeum” netting.  I find that mesh to be so fine that it restricts
ventilation and causes my breathing to become labored while walking.  I
sometimes even notice the labored breathing when I wear the net at
night.  Recently
I’ve begun hiking with a different head net; one I sewed from a much more
open-weave mesh.  “No-seeum” mesh really isn’t necessary for mosquitoes.  With
their long legs and wings they aren’t tiny, and being attracted to one’s
breath they aren’t sneaky enough to walk all over the place looking for some
little crack to squeeze in.

As for use with mosquitoes I find my open-mesh net to be excellent at
keeping those dastardly gnats out of my mouth.  Not only do I really dislike
having to spit out a gnat every minute or so, I keep remembering a close
friend – a runner – who ingested some kind of little bug and got a bad and
persistent case of lung-funk as a result.  I’d just as soon not have that
experience.

Since I don’t sleep in an enclosed tent I’m always on the look-out for ants
when I select a campsite.  Ants like to crawl in the bag with me, and while
I can’t remember being bit, they aggravate me by tickling as they hustle
around.  I avoid any ground that has the ant hills of medium-size ants;
rotted wood harboring large ants, or the rocky lair of the tiny ants.

I’m usually on the look-out for ticks, but I seldom find any.  Once I find
one every little tickle sends me on a search, and I consciously avoid
brushing against trail-side vegetation.  I don’t use any chemicals against
ticks; they don’t seem to be to be the biggest problem in spite of their
potential as disease carriers.

Steel-Eye

Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965

http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09

On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 6:47 PM, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks for all the great responses everyone. :)
>
> I'm hearing that they can be anywhere, so plan to carry bug protection the
> whole way.
>
> I already carry a bug net hat on most mountain hikes, but I don't always
> carry the extra netting to make my shelter bug proof. I was planning to
> remake a couple pieces of gear, so I might be able to lighten up my
> shelter.
>
> Thanks again for the info folks :)
>
> On Wed, Nov 24, 2010 at 3:58 PM, Brick Robbins <brick at brickrobbins.com
> >wrote:
>
> > I found the most obnoxious were the Deer Flies in SoCal, bighting my
> > through
> > my shirt, and leaving big blood stains (my blood) when I squashed them.
> >
> > The "face flies" in the So-Cal oak forests were really annoying too,
>  they
> > didn't usually land on me, but just swarmed in front of my face, so they
> > weren't a pkysical problem, except when I inhaled one.
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>
> --
> ~ Kevin
> Soon To Be PCT Thru Hiker!
> "The indoor life is the next best thing to premature burial." Edward Abbey
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